Drape folding machine



Oct. 18, 1966 R. M. KIRCHE DRAPE FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1963 I 5 Sheets-Sheet l Hoaoooooouooa 'llIllIIIIlllll/Il INVENTOR.

ROBERT M. K IRCHE BY mmnm vy QJM ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 R. M. KIRCHE 3,

DRAPE FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT M. KIRCHE W v/w.

' ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 R. M. KIR CHE bfiAPE FOLDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 12, 1963 INVENTOR.

ROBERT M. KIRCHE 0%," yA/w ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,279,661 DRAPE FOLDING MACHINE Robert M. Kirche, 411 W. Arbor Vitae, Inglewood, Calif. Filed July 12, 1963, Ser. No. 301,690 12 Claims. (Cl. 223-32) This invention has to do with apparatus for folding drapes and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved drape folding machine for use commerically by dry-cleaning establishments and the like which is so constructed that an operator can readily and quickly fold a drape and then tie it in folded condition for delivery to the customer.

Another object is to provide a machine of the type indicated which is so constructed that a person regardless of his height or strength can readily attach a drape to the drape-supporting portion of the machine and operate the machine. In this connection it is an object to provide a machine in which the drape-supporting means can be adjusted to a height suitable to the individual and which is accessible from the front of the machine.

A further object is to provide a machine in which a drape is held stationary during the folding operation and the folding elements move downwardly with the aid of gravity during the folding operation.

Another object is to provide a machine having novel drape support means which isexpansible and contractible to enable a person to bring the pleated top portion of a drape close together after the folding operation so that it may be tied in such relation before being removed from the machine.

Still another object is to provide an upright machine so constructed as to make maximum use of its height and which thus requires only relative limited head room as compared with other machines with which I am familiar.

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of traveling or movable drape-folding elements disposed at an angle which make it easy to use them and which assists in their retention in place during the folding operation.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the invention, partly broken away to show parts in section;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a machine with the parts shown in a different position and with a drape suspended in the machine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view of a releasable lock mechanism for the drape support bar;

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view on line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional plan view on line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the front of a support bar at one end thereof;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary isometric sectional view broken away to illustrate the clamp linkage;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view on line 1010 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the suspension of the support bar and main finger bar; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of a simplified form of drape support clamps.

More particularly describing the invention, the machine includes a frame generally designated 11 having a pair of laterally spaced base rails or channels 12 connected by a base plate 13. Normally the base rails would be bolted to the floor at the installation site. The frame also includes a pair of laterally spaced parallel uprights 15 which extend vertically upward from the forward part of the base rails and are braced by diagonals 16. The uprights serve as tracks for a drape support bar 18 which is movable up and down along the uprights and for a drape-folding bar assembly 20 which is motor-driven and movable up and down on the uprights.

Each upright is essentially a box-like member in cross section except that each is slotted at 22 on its inner side and provided with inturned flanges 23 defining the slot.

The drape support bar 18 is provided with a clamp means 25 to which the upper pleated portion of a drape 26 is affixed or fastened prior to the folding operation. This drape support bar comprises an elongated bar body 28 having a plate 29 at each end provided with a pair of rollers 30 adapted to run inside the upright as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Bar 18 is suspended on a pair of chains 32 which pass over two sprocket wheels 33, respectively, and which have counterweights 34 at their other ends. The sprockets are mounted on a tube 36 for rotation as a unit about a shaft 37 which is journaled on the top of the frame by the two bearings 38. A top cross member 39 of the frame supports the bearings. Also, two depending tubes 40 are provided for receiving and housing the chains 32 and counterweights 34. Two other tubes 41 also are dependingly mounted on the top cross member. One of these receives a counterbalance 43 on the end of a chain 44 which passes over a sprocket 45 on one end of the shaft 37. This chain is attached to a bracket 46 at one end of the main finger bar of the drape-folding bar assembly as will later become apparent.

The drape-folding bar assembly includes a main finger bar 48 with a bracket 46 at each end having four rollers which ride within the uprights, respectively. It also includes an auxiliary finger bar 50. The main finger bar is adapted to be driven selectively either up or down by means of a chain 53 which passes over a sprocket 54 on one end of the drive shaft 37 and around another sprocket 56 on a countershaft 57 driven by a belt 58 from a gear reduction means 59 connected to a motor 60. The ends 53' of the chain are attached to the bracket 46 at one end of the main finger bar and thus the chain is essentially endless, since the bracket forms the connecting link between its ends. Suitable control means 62 can be provided for the motor.

It will be apparent that when the chain 53 is driven by the motor, the main finger bar will be raised or lowered, depending upon the direction in which the motor turns, and that the chain 44 which supports the opposite end of the main finger bar also is driven through the medium of the shaft 37.

The drape support bar 18 is freely movable upwardly in uprights 15 so that upward movement of the main finger bar will serve to carry the drape support bar upwardly with it from the position of FIG. 1. However, means is provided for preventing the drape support bar from moving downwardly except at the will of the operator and this comprises a latch mechanism which includes a knob 63 at the lower end of a vertically movable rod 64 supported in the frame. This rod has a laterally projecting portion 65 (See FIG. 5) near its upper end and a vertical terminal portion 66 which is adapted to engage, when moved upwardly, the end 67 of locking lever 68. The latter is journaled in a channel member 69 and has a ratchet end portion 70 which normally engages the teeth of the adjacent sprocket 33 to prevent its turning counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 5. Thus upward movement of the rod 64 serves to release the latch and permit the support bar to be moved downwardly by hand. The

3 i latch acts as a ratchet, and thus the sprocket can be turned at any time in the opposite direction.

The clamp means on the support bar may take the form of a plurality of fixed compression spring finger clamps 73 mounted on a bar 74, such as shown in FIG. 12. However, I prefer to employ a means which is expansible and contractible longitudinally of the bar, such as shown in the other views.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 6, 8-10, this preferred clamp means comprises a plurality of plates 80, each provided with a pair of ears 81 at one end in a plane forward of the plate and each connected to the other by a pin 82 and slot 83. The series of plates are disposed in overlapping relation as best seen in FIG. 9 and are received in a channel 85, being retained by the ears 81. A housing strip 87 is provided at each side to shield the ears. Each plate is provided with a compression-type clamp 88 having spring fingers 89 and 90, the former of which is substantially shorter than the latter. These are preferably arranged so that the short fingers of one clamp are adjacent the short fingers of the other clamp. The clamps are secured by rivets 92 to the plates.

At each end a special plate 94 is pivotally mounted and provided with a knob 95 and a hooked end portion 96 adapted to fit over a pin 97 provided on the bar. When these plates are unhooked, the clamps may be pushed close together as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drape-folding bar assembly, the main finger bar comprises an elongated main member or body 100 mounted between plates 101 at each end. It will which carry the afore-mentioned brackets 46. be noted that the member 100 is inclined somewhat so that it faces upwardly at a slight angle. The finger bar assembly includes the auxiliary finger bar 50 having a main body 105 which is pivotally mounted at its ends at 106 on extensions 107 of plates 101 at the ends of the main finger bar. Thus it may be swung up from the operative position as shown in full lines in the drawing to the inoperative or out-of-the-way position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. Each of the finger bars is provided with a plurality of fingers 110 which are so arranged that when the bars are in operative position the fingers of one bar are interdigitated with those .of the other. The fingers themselves may be of any desired construction, but I have illustrated a form made of wire and having two parallel sections 111 which are connected at their outer ends by a semicircular section 112.

The plate 101 at one end of the main finger bar is provided with an adjustable stop shown as comprising a strip 115 having a section 116 threadedly receiving a stop screw 117. A scale 118 may be provided on the strip .115 and the inner end of the bolt may be provided with a flange 120 to act as a pointer. The head of the stop screw thus serves to limit the movement of the auxiliary bar and thus determines the amount of overlap of the fingers of one bar with the other, depending upon the depthof fold desired in the drape.

The frame is provided witha pan 122 just above the base to receive the drape when its is initially threaded into the machine.

In the operation of the device, normally the first step is to adjust the drape support bar 18 and the assembly 20 to a convenient working height for the particular operator with the parts in the position shown in FIG. 1. The auxiliary finger bar is then raised to the brokenline position of FIG. 2. At this point it is desirable to measure the distance between pleats and set the stop screw 117 accordingly so that when the finger bar is returned to operative position the fingers thereof will only enter the drapery material the desired amount. The drape is then attached to the clamps of the support bar and thereafter the material is fed or disposed between the fingers of the main finger bar. The auxiliary finger bar is then swung downwardly into place, after which the entire drape-folding bar assembly 20 is moved upand the drape upwardly with it to the upper endof the frame. The motor is then stopped, and a limit switch (not shown) may be provided for this purpose. At this point the drape support bar 18 is locked. against downward movement by the ratchet lock finger 70. i The motor is then reversed to move the drape-folding assembly down to effect the folding of the material'. The operator can then readily tie the material together and after several ties have been made, the clamps of the upperor support bar are moved together so that the upper part of the drape can be tied while still on the machine.

After tying, the drape is removed.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing 1 tracks for movement therealong, clamp means on said support bar into which the permanent pleats at the upperend of a drape can 'be inserted, a main finger bar mounted at its ends in said tracks below said drape support bar for movement therealong, a motor, means operably connecting said motor to said main finger bar for selectively.

moving said bar up or down, an auxiliary finger bar movably mounted on said main finger bar for selective positioning in an operative or an inoperative position, releasable means carried by said frame for preventing downward movement of said support bar, and fingers carried a by said finger bars so positioned as to become interdigitated when said auxiliary finger bar is 'in drape-engaging position.

2. The machine set forth in claim 1 in which said drape support bar. is suspended by means including a counterbalance means.

3. The machine set forth in claim 2 in which said main finger bar is driven at one end by the motor and in which it is suspended at the other end by means including a counterbalance.

4. In a drape-folding machine,. a frame providing a pair of upright, laterally spaced, parallel tracks, a pair of sprockets on said frame at the upper end of each of said tracks, a drape support bar mounted at its ends in, said tracks for movement therealong, chains connected at one end to said bar, extending over two of said sprockets, ire-1 spectively, counterweights on said chains, clamp means on said support bar into which the permanent pleats of a drape can be inserted, a main finger bar mounted at its ends in said tracks below said drape support bar for move-.

ment therealong, a motor-driven chain connected at its ends to one end of said main finger bar and trained over one of said sprockets, a chain connected at one end to the other end of said main finger bar and trained over one of said sprockets, a counterweight at the other end of said last-mentioned chain, an auxiliary finger bar movably mounted on said main finger bar for selective positionv mg in an operative or an inoperative position, releasable means carrled by said frame for preventing downward I movement of said support bar, and fingers carried by said finger 'bars so positioned as to become interdigitated when said auxiliary finger bar is in drape-engaging position.

5. The machine set forth in claim 4 in which the two sprockets over which the drape support bar chains are i laterally spaced parallel tracks, a drape support bar mounted at its ends in said 8. In a drape folding machine having means for suspending a drape by the upper pleated portion thereof and including a frame with vertically extending track means, a motor-driven drape folding bar assembly movable up and down on the track comprising a main finger bar extending horizontally and provided with laterally spaced forwardly projecting fingers and an auxiliary finger bar in front of said main finger bar and pivotally mounted thereon for upward swinging movement to a position above said main finger bar, said auxiliary finger bar having fingers projecting rearwardly between the fingers of said main finger bar in the normal position thereof.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 8 in which said main finger bar and said auxiliary finger bar are provided with interengaging adjustable stop means for limiting the swinging movement of said auxiliary bar toward said main finger bar whereby to limit the overlapping of said fingers.

10. In a drape-folding machine having a frame, a drape support bar carried on said frame, track means extending longitudinally along the bar, a plurality of plates disposed in said track means, said plates being disposed in overlapping relation and 'being provided with connection means permitting limited movement of the plates relative to each other longitudinally of the bar, and means carried by said plates for holding the material of a drape.

11. The construction set 'forth in claim 10 in which there is interengaging means on the endmost plates and on said bar for releasably anchoring the endmost plates to the bar.

12. The construction set forth in claim 10 in which said track means comprises a channel member in the face of the bar receiving said plates and having inturned flanges at its outer margins to retain the plates, and in which adjacent plates are connected by a pin-and-slot connection.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,010 1/1955 Reed 223-33 X 2,954,907 10/1960 Bird 223 3,154,228 10/1964 Klint 223-32 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR FOLDING A DRAPE OR THE LIKE, A FRAME PROVIDING A PAIR OF UPRIGHT, LATERALLY SPACED PARALLEL TRACKS, A DRAPE SUPPPORT BAR MOUNTED AT ITS ENDS IN SAID TRACKS FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG, CLAMP MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT BAR INTO WHICH THE PERMANENT PLEATS AT THE UPPER END OF A DRAPE CAN BE INSERTED, A MAIN FINGER BAR MOUNTED AT ITS ENDS IN SAID TRACKS BELOW SAID DRAPE SUPPORT BAR FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG, A MOTOR, MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTING SAID MOTOR TO SAID MAIN FINGER BAR FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID BAR UP OR DOWN, AN AUXILIARY FINGER BAR MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FINGER BAR FOR SELECTIVE POSITIONING IN AN OPERATIVE OR AN INOPERATIVE POSITION, RELEASABLE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME FOR PREVENTING DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT BAR, AND FINGERS CARRIED BY SAID FINGER BARS SO POSITIONED AS TO BECOME INTERDIGITATED WHEN SAID AUXILIARY FINGER BAR IS IN DRAPE-ENGAGING POSITION. 